Morphological Studies on Seeds of Scrophulariaceae s.l. and Their Systematic Significance

This study employed scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy to observe seed surface micromorphology and seed coat anatomy in the Scrophulariaceae s.l. to investigate seed characters of taxonomic importance. Seeds of 41 taxa corresponding to 13 genera of the family were carefully investigated. Seeds were minute and less than or slightly larger than 1 millimeter in length except for Melampyrum and Pedicularis species. The seed shape ranged from elliptical to broad elliptical and ovoid. In the studied species the surface sculpture was predominantly reticulate-striate, regular reticulate, sometimes colliculate, and rugose, or - rarely - ribbed, as in Lindernia procumbens and Paulownia coreana. Seed coats comprised the epidermis and the endothelium. Nevertheless, in all Melampyrum and some Veronica species the seed coat was very poorly represented and only formed by a papery layer of epidermis. According to correspondence analysis (CA) and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) based cluster analysis the close affinities among the species of Scrophularia were well supported by their proximity to one another. Similarly, the proximity of Melampyrum species and Pedicularis species cannot be denied. In contrast, Veronica species were divided into two groups in CA plots and even three in the UPGMA tree. Regardless of the limited range taxa considered we found that similarities and differences in seed morphology between different genera could help us to understand the systematic relationships involved

Comparative leaf anatomy of some species of Abies and Picea (Pinaceae)

ABSTRACTA number of conifer species are still lacking anatomical data, which is significant because morphological and anatomical data are essential for systematic study. Leaf anatomy was studied in selected species of Abiesand Piceausing light and scanning electron microscopy. Both genera were found to have typical coniferous and highly xerophytic leaves with sunken stomata and an epidermis covered by a thick cuticle. In the genus Abies, species can be differentiated by the nature of the lignified hypodermis and the number and position of resin ducts. Abies firma and A. holophylla have a continuous hypodermis whereas in A. koreana and A. nephrolepis the hypodermis is discontinuous and represented by isolated cells or groups of four or five cells. On the other hand, in Picea leaf shape, stomata arrangement, and number, position, and nature of resin ducts are the key features for species differentiation. Picea jezoensis has a flattened leaf with stomata distributed on the adaxial surface whereas P. abies and P. koraiensis have a rectangular leaf with stomata found on surfaces

Allelopathic Potential of Phenolic Compounds in Secale Cereale Cultivars and Its Relationship with Seeding Density

In this study, we investigated the allelopathic effect of Secale cereale cultivars on different weeds that grow in the cultivated fields of Perilla frutescens. Two S. cereale cultivars, Paldong and Singhi, were used to test the allelopathic effect on in vitro grown Digitaria ciliaris, Chenopodium album, Amaranthus lividus, Portulaca oleracea, Pinellia ternata and Commelina communis. The results indicated that S. cereale extracts affect callus growth of weeds in terms of fresh weight and percentage of growth inhibition. The inhibitory effects of both S. cereale cultivars combined with grass cover extracts were higher than using grass weeds alone. Concentrations of all identified phenolic compounds were significantly higher in the leaves extracts of Paldong compared to Singhi. Particularly, syringic acid in leaves extract of the Paldong cultivar were 12.87-fold higher than in the Singhi cultivar. The other predominant phenolic compounds such as salicylic acid, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acids were 3.30, 4.63, 3.11, and 1.28 times higher, respectively, in the leaves extracts of Paldong compared to Singhi. Principal component analysis (PCA) results indicated that the composition of phenolic compounds was significantly related to cultivar types and plant parts used. In addition, biomass increase caused increased weed inhibitory capacity of S. cereale both in tillage and no-tillage regimes. These results suggest that the biomass of cover crops negatively influenced weed density

Anaesthesia and Perioperative Care in Remote Health Camps- Patients’ Concerns

INTRODUCTION: Identifying patients' concerns and expectations regarding anaesthesia and perioperative care in mobile surgical camps is relevant for the camp workers. This prospective observational study was conducted to assess knowledge, concerns, and expectations about anaesthesia and perioperative care in patients undergoing surgery in mobile surgical camps in remote mountainous districts of Eastern Nepal. METHODS: A questionnaire with seven items related to anaesthesia and perioperative care was used for interviewing 80 individuals of age > or = 12 years, 20 from each camp at Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasabha, Khotang and Bhojpur districts. RESULTS: Data of two patients were lost leaving only 78 individuals for analysis. The mean age of the subjects was 30.5 (+/- 14.6) years with the male: female ratio of 43: 35. Fifty-eight (74.4%) patients had some gross idea about the modality of administration of anaesthetics. Twenty-six (33.3%) individuals preferred GA over local anaesthesia, whereas 22 (28.2%) were happy either way if there was no pain. Pain was the main concern for 73.1% of the patients. Of the 25 patients expressing fear of GA, death or not being able to wake up anymore was the main concern for 60.0%. Increasing age was associated with lower fear of GA (p < 0.05). Surgical experience was distressing for 17 (21.8%) patients. The overall experience of the anaesthesia and surgery was worse than expected for 25.6% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting to these health camps have limited knowledge regarding anaesthesia and perioperative care but have valid concerns and expectations in respect of their safety, comfort and outcome

Comparative wood anatomy of Korean Viburnum L. (Adoxaceae) and its taxonomic implication

Comparative wood anatomy of Viburnum was carried out to understand the differences in wood features amongst the species which might be useful for taxonomic discrimination in the genus. Altogether, nine taxa belonging to five clades were investigated using a sliding microtome and light microscopy. The growth rings are well represented and earlywood and latewood are distinguishable in cross-section. Some of the important wood features include angular, oval and rounded vessels with scalariform perforation plates, opposite to scalariform inter-vessel pitting, rounded pits with slit-like apertures, thick-walled xylem tracheids with simple, rounded bordered pits, diffuse axial parenchyma, uni- and multiseriate rays, 2–4 cells wide. In general, there is a remarkable uniformity in the qualitative wood features in Viburnum species, although quantitative measurement showed some disparities. The most significant quantitative wood variables which might be useful for taxonomic groupings of the species comprise a frequency of vessels and rays, the diameter of the vessels and tracheids in the radial and tangential planes and height and width of rays in the tangential plane

Complete chloroplast genome of Clematis taeguensis (Ranunculaceae), an endemic species from South Korea

The complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of Clematis taeguensis Y.N.Lee (Ranunculaceae) was determined to be 159,534 bp in length, consisting of large (79,326 bp) and small (18,338 bp) single-copy regions and a pair of identical inverted repeats (30,935 bp). The genome contains 92 protein-coding genes, 32 tRNA genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 1 pseudogene (infA). Phylogenetic analysis of 19 taxa inferred from the chloroplast genome showed a relationship with C. taeguensis, which is also recognized as a species endemic to the Korean Peninsula. The complete cp genome sequence of C. taeguensis reported here provides important information for future phylogenetic and evolutionary studies in Ranunculaceae